The Cadherin-catenin Complex is Necessary for Cell Adhesion and Embryogenesis in Nematostella Vectensis

Overview

Journal Dev Biol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Biology
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2019 Jan 11

PMID 30629955

Citations 11

Authors

D Nathaniel Clarke

Christopher J Lowe

W James Nelson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The cadherin-catenin complex is a conserved, calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion module that is necessary for normal development and the maintenance of tissue integrity in bilaterian animals. Despite longstanding evidence of a deep ancestry of calcium-dependent cell adhesion in animals, the requirement of the cadherin-catenin complex to coordinate cell-cell adhesion has not been tested directly in a non-bilaterian organism. Here, we provide the first analysis of classical cadherins and catenins in the Starlet Sea Anemone, Nematostella vectensis. Gene expression, protein localization, siRNA-mediated knockdown of α-catenin, and calcium-dependent cell aggregation assays provide evidence that a bonafide cadherin-catenin complex is present in the early embryo, and that α-catenin is required for normal embryonic development and the formation of cell-cell adhesions between cells dissociated from whole embryos. Together these results support the hypothesis that the cadherin-catenin complex was likely a complete and functional cell-cell adhesion module in the last common cnidarian-bilaterian ancestor. SUMMARY STATEMENT: Embryonic manipulations and ex vivo adhesion assays in the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, indicate that the necessity of the cadherin-catenin complex for mediating cell-cell adhesion is deeply conserved in animal evolution.

Citing Articles

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